Aw, I miss reading Pretty Magic!

[ZOMBIE USER 3098]

Sorry if I'm whining, heh, but I do miss reading the comic - man, the FTP failiures, etc, etc, wow, it's been hectic these days. Also, haven't seen a new Pretty Magic comic fer a while. Oh well.<P>-Albrecht <A HREF="http://ntnation.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>http://ntnation.keenspace.com</A> <P>---------------------------------------------
Joy Division's evil twin band to be featured!

[Garnet]

If I remember right Pretty Magic had a lull at the beginning of December, but I keep coming back every day even if there aren't updates for two weeks.<P>I've had so many people yell at me because my comic isn't updated due to these server problems that I just wanted to quit, and I've wanted to just not do it for other reasons too, but I keep plugging along even though it seems my every waking moment is spent on either it or homework.<P>Where am I going with this? Gee I had a point somewhere O.o;;; Oh yeah, Brian, we love Pretty Magic. If you're busy or its techie problems or you just don't want to do it, you know you can tell us, I'm sure 99% of us will be supporting and nice <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif"><P>------------------
~Garnet
<A HREF="http://fourboys.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Fourboys</A> - The lives of four bishounen RP characters beyond the RP

[Brian Young]

Meh, I finished drawing the next comic on time but then I tried to color it in flash. Hasn't worked out so it looks like I'll have to do it the normal way. ~_~;;<P>------------------
Brian<P><A HREF="http://www.prettymagic.com" TARGET=_blank>Magical Mage Pretty Magic</A> - <A HREF="http://www.prettymagic.com" TARGET=_blank>PrettyMagic.com</A>

[MukiSama]

Need help colorin' and shadin' in Flash? I can toss a few pointers your way. Check this <A HREF="http://interactive.colum.edu/students/pmartinez/testimage.swf" TARGET=_blank>little flash image</A> out and tell me if this is the kind of stuff you're trying to do (and if my work is satisfactory enuf to warrant accepting any pointers I offer ^^).<P>Are your characters' lines vector-based, or are they just pixels? That usually leads to the first issues with coloring in Flash (btw, tip #1 : DON'T create the characters' lines IN Flash. It's always a b1tch).<P>Anyhoo, hope I can help with this. Coloring comix in flash rocks. They take up less space 'n look all cleaned up 'n stuff. ^^<p>[This message has been edited by MukiSama (edited 01-21-2002).]

[Brian Young]

Yeah, that's exactly what I want. I convert to vectors using Corel AutoTrace which looked great. Imported my pallettes. I colored it mostly but it was taking me much longer than it did my old way ... Mostly because of my familiarity with the program I guess. I don't know how to add the extra highlights and stuff yet.<P>------------------
Brian<P><A HREF="http://www.prettymagic.com" TARGET=_blank>Magical Mage Pretty Magic</A> - <A HREF="http://www.prettymagic.com" TARGET=_blank>PrettyMagic.com</A>

[ZOMBIE USER 3098]

Fer me, Flash was the best. It produces a nice and decent image, though it distorts the size a little thus making my cartoons a little "abstract-looking" so it's not for everyone. Currently, I use Illustrator just to draw everything and I'm getting quite good at it so far (my coloured comics are Illustrator drawn instead of paper and pen).<P>Well, er, here's my Flash converted vector though. It's a head of my avatar. Image at <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/reflex_thinker/brecht.png." TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/reflex_thinker/brecht.png.</A> Well, what do you think of the coloring?<P>-Albrecht <A HREF="http://ntnation.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>http://ntnation.keenspace.com</A> <P>---------------------------------------------
If love is a shield, then what's it's opposite?

[Rydia-chan]

I'm disappointed with not seeing more comics, myself, but I'm not going to go so far as to yell at ya for things beyond your control (like Keen's server change, or that "real world" thing). I mean...I'm just happy to have what you've got time to put up here.<P>Besides, I won't die without my comics...really! <_<;; *hides information about Online Comic Readers Anonymous* ^_^;; Would I lie?<P>------------------
"Maybe... or maybe you're just not drunk enough." -- Nakibe
"fucking tuypoes" -- Rydia
"Eat chicken, live forever...until you die, then you're screwed." -- Matt<P>*-*-*-*-*-*-*
<A HREF="http://www.davidr.com/rpgww/" TARGET=_blank>RPG World...World!</A> | <A HREF="http://2sugoi.topcities.com/" TARGET=_blank>2 Sugoi</A>
<A HREF="http://zeke.tzo.com/pd/pdpage.htm" TARGET=_blank>Pocket Dragons!</A> (warning: excessively cute dragons contained within)

[Brian Young]

About the Keen server, it's been kind of funny trying to get things to work. I spent Saturday moring trying to get the comic up, came up in the queue at 4000 or something ... After a few hours I was number 9 and was like "YAAY!!!!!!!!"ing. Then I checked back in a few hours and was number 9 still and later still number 9. Came back again and Keen wasn't working at all! I had wanted to put up this one and then have the next one up on (this past) Sunday but it didn't even update until Sunday.<P>Keen is still a little flakey but hopefully Thursday the update will run correctly. I'm not too upset with Keen now. Considering I've had run a comic here since August 2000 and went through a copyright snaffuu that the Keen Admins help work out a deal with I'm sure I'll stick with them for a while. (Talking Boy Girl, originally called "Boys & Girls Club" ... it's older than RPG World!) Of course back then I managed to run at least 3 to 5 days a week. ^_^;; I still hope to add Tuesdays to the update schedule as soon as I get things in order and together.<P>------------------
Brian<P><A HREF="http://www.prettymagic.com" TARGET=_blank>Magical Mage Pretty Magic</A> - <A HREF="http://www.prettymagic.com" TARGET=_blank>PrettyMagic.com</A>

[Brian Young]

Yeah, that looks great! Here's as far as I finished using only the paint bucket: <a href="http://www.prettymagic.com/images/upm22.swf">click me!</a><P>
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Brian<P><A HREF="http://www.prettymagic.com" TARGET=_blank>Magical Mage Pretty Magic</A> - <A HREF="http://www.prettymagic.com" TARGET=_blank>PrettyMagic.com</A><p>[This message has been edited by Brian Young (edited 01-23-2002).]

[MukiSama]

Note : The file about to be linked to is an HTML link to the final SWF file, because of Angelfire's linking policty. I apologize for the 2nd step required. ^^<P>I suppose <A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/KittyRant/fux0r.html" TARGET=_blank>this</A> is what you were trying to do?<P>I'll admit it's early and kinda rushed, but I could do the whole comic like that in about an hour or two. ^^<P>I could teach you how to do it this way but I'll admit it takes forever (and a day).<P>Shading is accomplished in flash, as far as I do it, mainly by simply using the fill brush tool to make the outlines, then filling them. It's a bitch with vector lines, if it's even possible. ^^ (if only a "sample merged" option existed....)<p>[This message has been edited by MukiSama (edited 01-23-2002).]